Sparks expected at Chess AGM
Calistus Kolantsho | Saturday September 24, 2022 06:00
The AGM was due to be held before July 30 as per the constitution. It has emerged that some clubs have not been invited to the AGM.
Clubs are expected to seek an explanation from the executive committee regarding the suspension of vice president technical, Dr Moses Khutsafalo. BCF president Mooketsi Segaise suspended Khutsafalo in August. In return, Khutsafalo wrote back suspending Segaise.
Speaking to Mmegi Sport, Moroka Motlogelwa of Moroka Academy raised concern that the leadership has failed chess. “I am not even aware that there is an AGM tomorrow. T
he infighting at chess started during the election campaign and the two factions are still divided. We no longer trust each other, the situation is bad,” he said. Motlogelwa said there was no notice for the AGM and it is clear communication was sent to certain individuals. Meanwhile, national chess champions, Candidate Master (CM) Moakofhi Notha and Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Refilwe Gabatshwarwe remain home for the second time after failing to play at the FIDE Chess Olympiad early this year.
This time around the champions are home while the African Individual Championship is ongoing in Lagos, Nigeria with 22 countries represented.
According to a source, the federation should sponsor the national champions. Motlogelwa, who is Gabatshwarwe's coach, said it was disappointing because if they were informed on time they could have found a way of funding the trip. “It has been bad for Gabatshwarwe because at first, she did not qualify for the national team. I was one of the people who did not agree with the selection criteria, that is why the senior players did not participate,” he said. In other developments, the Botswana Open tournament that is traditionally held over the Independence holidays has been cancelled. Motlogelwa said the tournament has been replaced with league games.
The federation is said to have exhausted the P200,000 grant for the 2022-23 financial year. The funds were used to fund the Olympiad trip. BCF secretary general Mokwaledi Tingwane explained that most of the funds were used for the trip. “Most of it was used for that trip but P200,000 will never be enough to cover the Olympiad,” he said.